Val Rowles is assistant headteacher at Bedminster Down School and is responsible for behaviour, safety and attendance. The school has just received its best ever Ofsted report. Val took the leap into education from working in a paper merchants when her children started school. Here’s Val’s career story – starting from the top, with her own memories of Brislington School

Have you always lived in south Bristol? What are your memories of growing up in the city?
I attended Broomhill Infants and Junior Schools before moving to Brislington Comprehensive School. We could always smell the jam being produced at Robertson’s jam factory in the afternoons. At that time they had a mock flat in the school, where girls could be taught how to clean and were expected to join the touch typing class. I must have been quite strong-minded even then, as I wasn’t keen on doing the `girl subjects’ and didn’t. 

I was really inspired by a languages teacher called Mrs Rowley, who was also my house mistress, as she had the ability to look at you and know exactly what you had been doing. Everybody left school and went into a job, which for the girls was either; shop work, hairdressing, factory work, nursing or office work. There were plenty of jobs and companies such as Mardons, Robertsons, Robinsons and Imperial tobacco were large employers.

Brislington still had a village square when I lived there and it felt as though you knew everyone. We had a cinema called the Ritz (which is now Proper Job) and on Saturday mornings they ran children’s films, which we all loved.

You started work as a representative for a paper merchants, what prompted the move into schools?
I went to work in a paper merchant’s office and became an outside sales person, which involved having a car, so it was quite exciting. I really enjoyed my job and gave it up when I had my first daughter. I always wanted to be a teacher, but it had never seemed like a possibility for me. I started helping out with my daughter’s playgroup and when I had my second daughter, I began to run the group. I started to help in their primary schools and then became a learning support assistant, which I absolutely loved. 

Then you moved on to taking courses, a maths GCSE and an Open University degree – all while working full-time
I was encouraged to study for a degree by the then Deputy Head, who told me that I `was an underachiever’. After taking my maths GCSE, I began my degree with a foundation arts course, studying for about 20 hours every week. I continued working full-time and maintaining a family life. Bedminster Down School and my husband were both hugely supportive and enabled me to carry on. I was really regimented and organised, as I constantly had to meet deadlines.

My graduation ceremony was held at St David’s Hall Cardiff, and I was presented my degree by Betty Boothroyd. I was the first member of my family to get a degree and later my youngest daughter also graduated from Cardiff, which was so special. I felt really proud when I received Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and felt that I had finally achieved my dream job. 

What advice would you give adults who are considering studying again?
Studying again is frightening and you are bound to be filled with self-doubt, but I would encourage people to give it a go. I always felt that I would not be as clever as everyone else on each course I began, and always worried that I would embarrass myself, but it’s good to try things that challenge and frighten you. 

You are now assistant headteacher and the school has had its best ever Ofsted report, what changes have been implemented to ensure the school’s improvement?
I am thrilled that the school has been judged to be Good, we have all worked so hard to achieve this. We spend time getting to know each student well and have high expectations of them. The behaviour of our students was acknowledged as a strength of the school and I am very proud of both the students and staff. The students feel safe and secure in the school as a result of the pastoral system that we have in place. Our 2014 results were the best the school has ever had and attendance is now above national average. We are totally focused on improvement in every area, which we will achieve by working with students, parents and our Malago Learning Partnership primary schools. We have also set up the school’s own Alternative Provision which allows us to support students with individual packages to re-engage with education. This Provision was singled out for praise by Ofsted and demonstrates the school’s commitment to supporting every student to achieve their full potential. It is a fantastic achievement that the school had no NEETS (not in employment, education or training) in 2014.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking of becoming a teacher?
Teaching is a rewarding profession. Students instinctively know if you care about them and when things go well, it’s brilliant. However you need to be resilient, as it can also be a very tough job. You will need a sense of humour. If you are thinking about a career in teaching, I would advise you to do some voluntary work in schools and I am sure that it will enthuse you to work with young people.

And someone who is on the brink of a career change?
Go for it. You only ever regret the things that you don’t do. I want to be able to look back and think that I did my best and made a difference. If you are dissatisfied with your current career, then make a change.

What’s the most rewarding and difficult part of your job?
The best part of my job is the students. I absolutely love it when I meet past students and hear how they getting on. When students are successful and do something well, it is so satisfying to think that you have played a part in that. As I have worked in the school for a long time, I meet parents and extended family members that attended the school, which fosters trust and understanding. There is never a day that goes by that I don’t laugh, as students are genuinely great fun and I think working with young people gives you a positive outlook.

The most difficult part of my job is the work that I do as designated child protection officer. Some children have very challenging backgrounds and it makes me sad that sometimes all I can do is support. An experienced colleague once told me that I could not change everything and what I needed to do was everything that was in my power and then let it go. There are some tough times, but the great things that happen in school outweigh them.

What’s the future for you and your school?
The school is going to move to `Outstanding’. I have every confidence that this will be achieved in the next report. We will continue to improve year on year and every student that attends  Bedminster Down School will leave with the `Bedminster Down edge’, which will prepare them for the next step of their journey. I am not sure what the future will be for me as I never expected to be an assistant headteacher, but I am sure that I will continue to challenge myself.